Description

SO 75 NE WICHENFORD CP

3/126 Wichenford Court
12.11.51

GV II*

House. C15 origins, rebuilt in early C18, restored mid-C20. Brick
on partly coursed sandstone rubble plinth, hipped tiled roof, 2 brick ridge
stacks with oversailing cap courses to rear wings. Two storeys, cellar and
attic with dormers; 3 course band between main storeys and dentilled eaves
course. U-shaped plan of front range with 2 rear wings at each end and also
2 small wings at centre of rear. Seven bays; all windows are wooden cross
casements with leaded lights; ground floor windows have flat, gauged brick
arches; 2 gabled dormers with casements. Central panelled timber door,
rectangular fanlight with central glazing bar, and flat canopy on 3 carved
brackets. Windows in side elevations have cambered heads. Interior Roof
timbers mainly reused from former timber-framed structure on site. East
room on first floor has early C17 panelling and a carved overmantel. The
central front room also has panelling, now painted white. A cupboard at
the top of the stairs is lined with wallpaper c1735, in good condition and
a rare survival. Many of the windows retain their wrought iron fasteners.
C18 staircase replaced by mid-C20 one but balusters reused in rear extension
above cellar stairs and in outbuilding (qv).
A substantial medieval manor house originally stood on site, complete with
moat, drawbridge and gatehouse. Form early C15 to late C17 the house belonged
to Washbourne family and it is alleged that during the wars between Henry IV
and Owen Glendower, a French nobleman was held captive in the house and
subsequently murdered by Margaret Washbourne; a bloodstain is maintained
on the landing to this day. The major rebuilding took place c1710. By the
early C20 building had deteriorated and was sub-divided for farming purposes.
The mid-C20 restoration included several rear additions and recreation of a
formal garden.

Listing NGR: SO7878859839

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17547743

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Harrow on the Hill: A photographic portrayal of listed buildings and structures (Historic Buildings Picture Guides)
• 
  London 3: North West: North West v. 3 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Suffolk: East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Gloucestershire 1: The Cotswolds: Cotswolds Pt. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Essex: Buildings of England Series (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Sussex: East with Brighton and Hove (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)